Rotary power plant



A. cHAUssEPlED ROTARY POWERVPLANT Filed News.' 1921 Oct. 20, 1925-A A. cHAussEPlED -RQTARY POWER PLANT Filed Nov. 5, 1921 2 sneewsnm -2 o Hv as if n ,T O

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Patented Get. 20, 1925.

UNITED STATES nrnxis criaussnrinn,

OF SAUMUR, FRANCE.

ROTARY POWER PLANT.

Application filed November To all fr0/tom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Annxis Crrnussnrino, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at Saumur, France, tl Quai Wilson, have invented a certain new and useful Rotary Power Plant, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a reversible rotary engine operating at will either as a generator of power, or as a refrigerator'. The said machine is thus capable of transn forming into motive power the heat supplied thereto, or inversely of restoring in the shape of cold units the motive power received.

The engine according' to the present invention essentially comprises two hermetically closed vessels in periodic communication with eachv other, the said vessels being mounted in such a manner as to act like a unitary structure and rotating together on a common shaft. 1i/Vhen the engine operates as a motor one of the vessels acts as a generator and the other as a condenser. lVhen the engine, driven in the reverse die rection, ope lates as a refrigerator, the evaporator acts as condenser and the condenser fulfills the function of a cooler.

vUse is niade as a generator of power or as a cooling medium of an agent having a low temperature of volatilization, for instance a liquefied gas such as sulfur dioxide, methyl chloride, or the equivalent, of which the lubricating properties facilitate the operation of the movable parts.

@wing to the small change in temperature which such agents require to produce medium pressures, and to the very high pressures produced by high temperatures, the generator is not directly subjected to the action of heat, but the latter is transmitted thereto through the medium of water, air, etc., or of steam in the case of high pressures. g The vapours produced act inside movable cylinders sliding on fixed pistons connected by means of connect-ing rods to a central :inner shaft maintained in fixed position by a balance weight and about which the whole of the engine revolves. The vapours are exhausted through the medium of a set of distribution valves arranged within one of the vessels, and a pump brings back to the evaporator the liquid resulting from the condensation of the vapours.

lVlien, under the influence of external 5, 1921. serial No. 513,208.

power, the engine is caused to rotate in a direction reverse to the direction of the movement imparted thereto as a motor, it becomes a refrigerator. In such case the cylinders and plungers act successively to draw off' or suck the vapours from the evaporator (which was the condenser of the motor) and to deliver them into the condenser (which was the generator of vapours of the motor). Duringv the aforesaid reverse movement, the pump acts similarly to pump the liquid from the condenser into the evaporator.

Owing to the low temperature of vapor.- ization of the liquid employed, the motor is able to run with low temperatures, such as for instance that of the solar heat, the reduction of temperature of the condenser being obtained through the evaporation on the surface thereof of a thin vlayer of water, which may be rendered more active by means of a fan'actuated by the motor itself.

The accon'ipanying drawing illustrates, by way of example only, an embodiment ofa rotary engine according to the invent-ion.

ln the said drawing:

Fig. l is a vertical section through the complete apparatus,

Fig. 2 is a detail of a cam controlling the action of the. valves of the pump for the liquid,

Fig. 3 shows another of the cams controlling the valves ofthe said pump,

Fig. -t is a detail of the cylinder and of the plunger of the pump for the liquid and the device controlling the action thereof.

Fig. 5 shows the complete construction of an engine having a vertical axis, the fixed shaft being integral with the `frame supporting the engine.

Referring to Fig. l, the two cylinders l and la constitute in fact a single cylinder divided in two portions, in which are arranged the pistons 2 and 2a which also form in fact a single piston with double action. The cylinders l and lZL are closed by means of ends lb and 1C. y

A. connecting rod 3 connects one of the ends of the double piston to the crank 4L of a crank shaft 5, which is maintained in fixed position by a balance weight 6 integral with a sleeve 18 secured on the shaft 5 by means of a key 19. The other parts of the apparat-us rotate on the shaft 5. It will be noticed thatJ if the cylinders 1 and ln are caused to revolve together with the vessel A, the fact=tl1a`t-vthe pistons 2 and 2a are thus imparted a, movement of translation, i. e. an annular movement, about an axis (i. e. the axis of the crank4) eccentricl in relation to the axis about which the cylinders revolve, will cause the said pistons-,tomove in relation to the said cylinders. The cylinder 1, 1a carries attire centre` and on` its'.y

outer face a hub 7 secured thereto, with a water ytight joint, by. means-.offbolts 8', and recessed at; the .centre to. receive 4one. end of the shaft. 5, on which it isfa-ble torotate,

while,atthe.,same time itrotatesin a bearing aprovidedwith aigreasecup. Allhesaid bear,- ing is supported onl a t ansverse member; T integral with-arigidlframe C on whichis also, fixed, another transverse member T carrying another, bearing, 33.. The whole lenginepis,supportedgbyathe rigidframe C.

situated an; eccentric 3.

A pnlley. 10. keyed ontothehhnb 7 serves for4 the transmissiomon thereception of the motive power. A grooved pulley 45 .serves todrivethe fan 42itlrrough the medium of thegroevedpulley. 44 andwofthe cable43 passing. over theiangle sheaves 44a.

The wall oftheicylinder 1, 1a opposite the hub; x7 1istformedibyadisc 11, the said disc being. at its, periphery. integral I with-- a cylinder 12.011 .which-a coverxor lid 13, welded oirthc fitting. 32, is.v secured byy means of screws 14;sofasto-obtain sa vessel. A which hermetically closed.

Thisvessel :fulfills the. functi on of an ev aporator generatorof vapours) when the apparatus acts as a motor, and ofa condenser when, on .the contrary, it acts as a refrigerator.

` 1Nithintheivessel A* areV arranged onthe disc 11L the two-valves 15' and 15"L forthe distribution of the vapours, which valves are.enclosediin valve-chests 16y and 16a` pro-` vided with ports ik16D, 1Gc for theA passage` of the vapours towards the inside ofthe vessel Ar The/saidvalve-chests also possess holes for the passage/of Vthe -rods of uthe valves and for guiding-same. The saidrods are secured to a collar, similarl to that illustratedl by 4,v mounted l on an-'eccentric 17 cut-in the fitting 18. To the endrof fthe" fitting `13 opposed to the eccentric 17 are secured by means of a screwv orfin any other Asuitable` manner two cams 22, 22al between which is The cams 22, 2?

either the. inside yof the vessel A, (delivery intokthe evaporator of the liquid from the condenser the valve 24 being opened and the valve 24a being closed) through the passage bored through the plug 28, or of the vessel li (deliveryY into B of the liquid from the vessel A, the valve 24 being closed and the valve 24a-bcingf opened) through the passage bored in the right angled plug 29, the pipe 35, the passage 34 bored in thev fitting 32, and the pipe 36 fitted on lthe said fitting. 32. The pump P is provided with a supportf 30. secured by. means of bolts 31 on the fitting 32, inzwhichia recess is bored to receive the end of the shaft. 5 Yin relation to -which the said fitting having the lid 13 of the-fvesselA"` welded thereto, rotates. The base ofi the support 30 and theiadjacent: extension of thefltting have holes providedtherethrough to` allow the passage of the rodof the plunger 251and ofthe rods ofithe distributionvalves 24, 24%and-to guidefthe said rods. Y, Gnthe rods of-the distributionv valves 24, 24 are secured small heavy masses 100, 10()a assuring their operationthrough the infiuencei of centrifugal force when Atheylea-ve the ca1ns22, 22a' so' that they close each in turn the-f channel 26 and also thepassages provided through the plugsf28v'and 29; The saidl valves are atf the required momenti brought back to theopen positioirthrouglr the right angled projection integral with the collars forming thefextensions of the lower ends of: their respective -rods engaging the cams 22,22a (Figsr2 andf3) which are rigidlyv secured on andintegral with thegshaftf on which the fitting 32 rotates.` The output of the pump P lis such that, when the apparatus. acts asa `motor (at maximum pressure) 1t: is able. to pumplfrom the condenser B;

into the generator A a` quantity of condens-cd liquid -at least equal to thatproducedby the condensation of the vapou-rs passingduring the same time through the cylinders 1, 1 sothat, when the engineacts ,in` the aforesaid conditions, almost-the, totality of the liquid is vconstantly in the vessel A.

lVhen onthe contrary the apparatus acts asa refrigerator, the pump P sucks the liquid fromthe vessel A to deli-ver/itintothe vessel B.

rlihe fitting is provided with a passage 37 bored therethrough and which allows placing into communication the inside of the vessel Ii and the. slide valves 15, 15a

former being y branched on the latter by incansof a union-piece 33h; thepassage 37 is extended towards the vessel A into which itopens, to receivev avsafety valve S adjusted toactat the maximum pressure allowed for the motor and beyond which' thefsaid safety valve opens from the outside towards the in-v side to allow the escape of the excess offvapourswhich thus go-directly from the-vessel llirough the external piping 33, 38, the

CTI

A into the vessel B. On the piece 32 is welded the vessel B formed of two opposed dish-like plates connected by a cylindrical portion to which they are welded. An inner hub 10G surrounding the end of the fitting 32 is provided to lit this vessel more securely to the said fitting.

The vessel A, as well as the cylinders and pipes behaving as a solid unit therewith, have a movement of rotation in the water contained in a tank 39, provided with openings 40, 40a for the circulation of hot or cold water according to the conditions in which the apparatus is employed (as a motor or as a refrigerator). The vessel B revolves in the water contained in a tank 41 or in a solution of salt when the apparatus generates cold. Openings 42, 42a allow. the circulation of the required quantity of water or solution ofv salt.

The tanks 39 and 4l have thereon covers 39a, 4la for the purpose of catching the water projected by the rotation of the vessels A and B and on which it is possible to secure at will (above openings 39h, 41b provided for the purpose) the fan 42 which is placed on the cover of the vessel used as condenser the opening of the other cover being closed by means of a suitable plate.

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of a vertically arranged apparatus. The inner balanceweight is done away with in such case, and the shaft 5 projects through a gland 46 on the end of the fitting 7, and is fixed in positio-n by means of a bolt 107 integral with the rigid frame C provided with transverse members T on which are secured the bearings 9 and The fit-ting 32 projects outside the vessel Bin an extension of the casing of the said vessel, and is supporte-d in a footstep bearing solid with the frame C. The cooling water is distributed by a pipe O on the vessel which is used as condenser, and which is also subjected to the action of the fan 42.

An insulating screen E is placed between the 2 vessels; it may be arranged either as a reflector or as a condenser of the solar rays on the vessel A when the apparatus acts as a motor using` solar heat.

It may also be used in the vertical position as a refrigerator, A being the condenser and B the evaporator, for insta-nce to maintain automatically a constant temperature in fermentation tanks, holds of ships, wagons, and the equivalent. The vessel A acting as a condenser, and being maintained at a low temperature, if the temperature of the medium in which the vessel B is immerged is raised, the vapours resulting from this rise of temperature act inside the cylinders l, l, and cause the rotation of the apparatus, which brings the fan into action. The vaporizaton of the wet surface of the vessel A produces the cooling of the cylinders l, l, The pump P pumps the liquid resulting from the said condensation into the vessel B, wherein the continuous vapori- Zation thereof produces a reduction of temperature influencing the surrounding medium until the moment. when the temperature of the vessel B is approximately equal to that of the vessel A.

rlhe operation of the engine is as follows:

When it is intended to use the apparatus as a motor, the tanks 39 and 4l are lled with water and provided with their covers 39a and 41a. The fan is placed on the latter, which is intended to cover the condenser, and the opening in the cover 39a is closed by means of the plate provided for the purpose.

lf, in any convenient manner, the tem-- perature of the water of the tank 39 is raised, the pressure of the vapours in the corresponding vessel increases and the pressure of the said vapours acts inside the cylinder which at the time being is in communication with the inside of the vessel B wherein the pressure is lower. @wing to the difference of pressure existing in the cylinders and to the resistance to the rotation opposed by the shaft carrying the crank 4 the apparatus starts its rotation and then, when the first cylinder is entirely filled with vapour and the opposed cylinder is empty, owing to the action of the collar controlling the operation of the slide valves, the slide valve? of the last named cylinder establishes the coinmunication between the said cylinder and the vessel A, while the opposed cylinder is in communication (for the exhaust of the vapours which it contains) with the vessel B wherein the condensation occurs. The movement of rotation of the appartus is thus obtained. Owing to this movement the fan is brought into action and causes the vaporization of the layer of water covering the outer surface of the vessel B wherein the vapours are condensed owing to the consequent reduction of temperature.

At the same time, the pump P operates: while the plunger delivers (owing to the influence of the fixed eccentric 23), the valve 242l is closed through the action of the centrifugal force and the valve 24 is open, the right angled projection on the collar forming the extension of the corresponding valve rod being retained by the cam 22 to allow the passage of liquid towards the inside of the vessel A. When all the liquid is delivered and the plunger 25 starts its sucking movement, the valve 24 disengaged by the cam 22 closes under the influence of centrifugal force the channel 26 and the passage through the plug 28, while the valve 24L is engaged by the cam 22t and brought back towards the centre to establish the communication between the vessel B and the cylinder 27, which is therefor filled with llt) liquida 'Ilhese various movements of the pistons, sliding valves for the distribution of the vapour, and parts ot the pump; are repeated automatically for each revolution and the` motor. rims continuously as long a" the temperature. is higher in the vessely A. than in the vessel B. A

lVhen employed as a refrigerator, the apparatus receives thro-ugh the pulley l() motive power which imparts thereto a movement of` rotation in a direction opposedy to thatv of the apparatus acting asa motor; as a result, the. movements vfliich have just. been indicated are produced inthe reverse direction. The set of cylinders. and slide valves therefor. causes the suction of the va,- pours from the vessel B which becomes. an evaporator or cooler andtlieir delivery into the vessel A which acts as a condenser and on the covel1 39a, of which the fan is placed. Owing tothe reverse movement of thedistribution valves 24s; 2li-1* trie pumplf sucks the liquid which condenses in theres. sel if-i and delivers. same into the vessel B Where its continuous vaporiZat-ion produces cold.

It; should.beezrpressly understood that the present. engine lends itself to various; formsv of. construction and numerous.modifications inits details, andtliat to tliefparts described and illustrated by'vcay. of example there may be substituted other parts serving the saine purpose er producing result.

l claim:

l. ln a rotary engine; the-combination of two substantiallyy cylindrical closed vessels (A) andf. (3).; tivo tanksenclosing.said vessels; anouter shart rotatably supported in said4 tanks and-.having said: vessels secured thereon; a pulley secured on the said .shaftoutwardly off the tanks.; an inner shaft' exs tending across the` tirs vessel (A) androtatably supported in, relation to-the outer shaft; said inner. shaft having a crank formed thereon; a cylinders formed integrally in one ofthe end-Wallsof said first vessel (A); ricorrespondine,- set of' rigidly assembled pistons` arranged in said cylinders; aconnecting rodf betv'een. said set of pistons and.: the crank on the inner shaft.: a sleeve keyed on. the

lastfnanied sliaftguieans ou saidfsleeve for preventing the rotation ofy saidshaftr; a set o'lvalve-chcsts arranged against the Wall of thecylinders inside the firstv vessel (A) and, in communication.on the one hand ivitli the said vesseland on the other hand with' said cylinders; slide-valves in said chests.` controllingthe lasts-named radially disposed pump rigidly. mounted on the outer. shaft Within .the rst vessel (A) similari set of radially disposed communication ineanson the sleeveifor operating said slidey and: inv relation on the one hand with the inside of said; iii'stvessel (A) and'` onthe other-hand Witlrthe inside of the-fsecondfvesf sel (B) ,vsaid pump including. a pair of cenf trifugallyY influenced valves; andy meanson. the .inner shaft` for; operating. said pump all substantially as described.

2. Ina rotary engine, the combination of tivo substantially cylindrical` closedivessels (A) and (B) tivoltanks enclosingsaid vesv sels andliaving an upper opening provided with a removable cover; a partially hollow outer shaftrotatably supportediin said tanks andhaving vsaid vessels securedfthereon, said; shaftv being lornied` of tivo aligned sectionslongitudinally; spaced Within the rirstfnanjied vessel Ut); pulleyy secured onk the said.

(A), and*incommunication on the one hand- With the said vessel andon the other hand with saidA cylinders; slide-.valves in said chests controlling the last-named cominunif cation; means: on the sleeve for operating said slide-valves i a-` pipe communication between the second vessel (B) and the slidevalves; a radially disposed pump structure rigidly mounted on the outer, shaft Within.

the firstvvesscl (A), said pump structure including` a cylinder Withpiston and a pair of valve-chambers in communication on the one hand With said cylinder and on the other hand With tlierinside of the first vessel (A) and of. the second vessel (B) respectively; apair.` vO centrifugally influencedv valves Working in said valve-chambers; means on the inner shaft for operating the piston of the pump and thesaid centrifugally influenced valves insuitable sequence; andacommunicationibetween the tivo aforesaid vesselsbored in the outer. shaft and havingits end opening out into the first of said vessels (A) fitted With a spring controlled safety valve adapted to be lifted on the pressure Withinsaid first vessel exceedinga predetermined limit; substantially asdescribed.

, 3.111 a rotary engine, the combination of: tivo`4 substantially cylindrical closed vessels (A) and (B) ;,t\votanks enclosing said vessels and having aniupper opening providedy and having said Vessels secured thereon, said shaft being formed of two aligned sections longitudinally spaced within the first-named vessel (A); a pulley secured on the said shaft outiif'ardly of the tanks; an inner shaft extending between the two sections of and rotatably mounted in relation to said outer shaft, said inner shaft having a crank formed thereon; a set of radially disposed cylinders formed integrally in one of the end-walls of the first vessel (A); a corresponding set of rigidly assembled pistons arranged in said cylinders; a connecting rod between said set of pistons and the crank on the inner shaft; a sleeve keyed on said inner shaft; means on said sleeve for preventing the rotation of the last-named shaft; a set of Valve-chests arranged against the wall of the cylinders inside the first vessel (A) and in communication on the one hand with the said vessel and on the other hand with said cylinders; slide-valves in said chests controlling the last-named communication; means for operating said slide valves, said means comprising an eccentric formed on the sleeve and adapted to be engaged by an elongated collar integral with the ends of the valve-rods of said Valves; a pipe co1n munication between the second Vessel (B) and the slide Valves; a radially disposed pump structure. rigidly mounted on the outer shaft within the first Vessel (A), said pump structure including a cylinder with piston and a pair of Valve-chambers in communication on the one hand with said cylinder and on the other hand with the inside of the first vessel (A) and of the second vessel (B) respectively; a pair of centrifugally influenced valves working in said Valve-chambers; means on the inner shaft for operating the piston of the pump, said means compris ing an eccentric adapted to be engaged by an elongated collar integral with said piston; means on said inner shaft for controlling the operation of the centrifugally iniiuenced valves, said means comprising discs having projecting cams formed at right angles thereon and in engagement with elongated collars integral with the rods of said valves; and a communication between the two aforesaid Vessels bored in the outer shaft and having its end opening` out into the first of said vessels (A) .fitted with a spring controlled safety-Valve adapted to be lifted on the pressure within said first vessel exceeding a predetermined limit; substantially as described.

In testimony thereof I signed hereunto my name.

ALEXIS CHAUSSEPIED, 

